Lake County is one of about 3,141 counties and county equivalents in the United States. It has 497.0 sq. miles in land area and a population density of 998.0 per square mile. In the last three decades of the 1900s its population declined by 11.3%. On the most recent census form, 97.6% of the population reported only one race, with 25.9% of these reporting African-American. The population of this county is 16.7% Hispanic (of any race). The average household size is 2.60 persons compared to an average family size of 3.20 persons. In 2010 health care and social assistance was the largest of 20 major sectors. It had an average wage per job of $42,335. Per capita income grew by 2.2% between 1999 and 2009 (adjusted for inflation).

People & Income Overview (By Place of Residence)	Value	Rank in U.S.	Industry Overview (2010) (By Place of Work)	Value	Rank in U.S.
Population (2010 Census Count)	496,005	135	Covered Employment	182,451	149
Growth (%) since 1990	4.3%	1934	Avg wage per job	$41,200	415
Households (2010)	188,157	128	Manufacturing - % all jobs in County	12.6%	1120
Labor Force (persons) (2010)	220,500	153	Avg wage per job	$74,493	82
Unemployment Rate (2010)	11.0	792	Transportation & Warehousing - % all jobs in County	3.9%	729
Per Capita Personal Income (2009)	$33,464	1264	Avg wage per job	$43,646	928
Median Household Income (2009)	$47,054	857	Health Care, Social Assist. - % all jobs in County	16.5%	437
Poverty Rate (2009)	16.4	1343	Avg wage per job	$42,335	484
H.S. Diploma or More - % of Adults 25+ (2010 ACS 5yr)	86.1	1,296	Finance and Insurance - % all jobs in County	2.3%	1696
Bachelor's Deg. or More - % of Adults 25+ (2010 ACS 5yr)	18.9	1,239	Avg wage per job	$43,889	824